The Inventive Spirit Still Lives in America

Hats off to Meredith Perry, a recent college graduate, who launched a company to market her technological innovation--the UBeam. Today, UBeam is hiring and attracting investors-remember those days? The sizzle of UBeam is that it transmits power through the air to charge wireless devices. No cables, no wires needed, the charger uses ultrasonic waves. The invention is a stroke of American ingenuity.

While at school, the 22-year-old Perry experienced the frustration of walking into class with a powerless laptop and no power cord. The light bulb appeared when she asked herself, "Why can't I recharge without a cord?" The question was a beginning of a journey of inquiring the impossible and exploring the possibilities.

NASA invention competition

Her pursuit lead to conducting a experiment for NASA, winning an invention competition at the University of Pennsylvania, getting valuable attention from a Wall Street Journal tech columnist, and most of all, gaining early funding for her invention from her father. 

The drive to invent the UBeam was evident in Perry's childhood. She earnestly sought out to do things beyond the norm and take crazy ideas seriously.

Lots of work remains for this new startup to demonstrate the safety and value proposition to commercialize the concept. I applaud Perry for her spirit and determination to transform an idea that most people would brush off and make it happen, no matter what others say. Power to you and may your wishes come true with lots of hard work!

Ultrasound to transmit data and power!

Steel walls are no match for Tristan Lawry. The doctoral student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has developed and demonstrated an innovative new system that uses ultrasound to simultaneously transmit large quantities of data and power wirelessly through thick metal walls, like the hulls of ships and submarines. Lawry is one of three finalists for the 2011 $30,000 Lemelson-MIT Rensselaer Student Prize.

What are your dreams? Start by expressing them

Comments

[Erica]

UBeam, IBeam, we AllBeam! Wow, what a novel concept, powering up an electronic device sans octopus cables. Who knew it could be done, who had the audacity to ponder and develop the concept? A college student, go figure? Another great testimony, that simply accepting the status quo or conventional wisdom is not only boring but useless. Challenging conventions is what will let us innovate and evolve on many levels not just tech. Great feature! I'll look forward to becoming a user.